Debilitating stiffness, throbbing achiness, swelling and redness from inflammation are some of the symptoms acute and chronic musculoskeletal sufferers endure. This includes the joints, bones and muscular system. Recent advancements in alternative regenerative therapy treatments offer new hope for pain sufferers.

Left untreated, these conditions can manifest in the form of arthritis, including osteo and rheumatoid, carpal tunnel syndrome, or knee, back, neck and shoulder pain just to name a few. Aging, genetics, trauma, obesity, repetitive actions on the job or in sports are typically the causes.

According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), “One in two Americans has a musculoskeletal condition. This adds up to a staggering $213 billion dollars for treatment, rehab and unemployment cost, stated in a report by the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI).”

What You Should Know About Orthopedic Surgery

Conditions involving the musculoskeletal system can lead to further degeneration and threaten your quality of life. Not being able to participate in the activities you once engaged in could be devastating and depressing. It is understandable that individuals experiencing excruciating pain and limited mobility would seek a physician and perhaps feel the need to schedule an appointment for invasive surgery.

But, not so fast, it would a good idea to determine if there are other options to regenerate your affected area.

In a 2017 online blog post for Reader’s Digest, 50 Secrets Surgeons Won’t Tell You, Dr. Kevin B. Jones shares one of the secrets by saying that some problems you just cannot fix well with surgery like many cases of back pain.

It is important to recognize that most doctors are encouraged to perform surgery; that is their training. Many will not even suggest alternative methods. You can find out more about the reasons here.

Fortunately for people with musculoskeletal disorders, there are Orthopedic Specialists who offer Regenerative Therapy, with proven results to provide relief for their patients.

What Is Regenerative Therapy?

In the 1990s, Regenerative Therapy gained popularity in medical circles and provided hope for those afflicted with conditions, like musculoskeletal difficulties.

You could characterize Regenerative Therapy as being able to restore damaged body parts, tissues or organs with harvested or engineered cultures from the patient’s own body.

Two groundbreaking treatments involving stem cells and platelet rich plasma have emerged that have changed the landscape of regenerative therapy.

Two Groundbreaking Treatments

These two procedures are quickly becoming sought-after treatments within the medical field. The idea that an Orthopedic Surgeon can retrieve, isolate and inject components from your own body to repair damaged areas in your system is exciting, even after being in use for a couple of decades.

Adult Stem Cells and Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) have studies backing them, which shows the benefits of these two therapies for various orthopedic problems.

In fact, one clinical trial concluded PRP injections benefited patients with osteoarthritis. The treatment proved to be safe and effective with no known side effects.

More individuals in the world of sports are rejecting the traditional method of receiving invasive surgery when they have injuries. Instead, they are going to progressive physicians using these types of rejuvenating methods.

In fact, sports figures, including Tiger Woods, Garrett Richards, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning and Maria Sharapova, have used stem cells and/or platelet-rich plasma with wonderful results.

Adult Stem Cells in Regenerative Therapy

There is a debate about when stem cells were discovered, but most people in the scientific community agree that it was in the 1960s, when scientists Ernest McCulloch and James Till detected the hematopoietic stem cell in mice.

For an element to have the classification of a stem cell, it must be able to renew itself by dividing into more cells and change into other cell types, including into the structures forming the ligaments, bone, cartilage, muscle, etc.

Currently, some health care practitioners dealing in regenerative therapy use adult stem cells and the numbers are increasing.

The process of using adult stem cells for restoring or repairing injuries in Orthopedic Medicine consists of drawing stem cell containing tissues such as bone marrow or adipose tissue (fat) from  the body, this tissue is processed to isolate and concentrate the stem cells.

The stem cells are then taken and injected into the injured area, such as a knee joint which immediately encourages the body to begin the rejuvenation process.

Restoration With PRP

Platelet-rich Plasma is full of elements like proteins and peptides that promote healing of the damaged tissues.

This process begins with blood being drawn from the patient and placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets, plasma and red blood cells.

The outcome is a concentration of platelets, growth factors and plasma, which is introduced back into the patient’s problem area. This starts the repairing of the tissues.

A combination of both therapies can be even more potent in obtaining recovery.

Finding the Best Physician for Regenerative Therapy   

It is essential to select the proper medical practitioner when you want PRP or stem cell therapy. Look for one who has experience doing these procedures and is willing to let you speak to past patients.

Don’t forget to ask them about their physical experience having the injections, recovery time and results.

Often these patients will tell you that they would opt to have a regenerative therapy over traditional surgery any time.

As with any form of medical treatment, you should consult with your physician before embarking on any treatment plan. The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be deemed accurate for the purposes of diagnosing your particular medical condition